All set for hosting of presidential candidates ‘debates’ – organizers

BY ARIANA GORDON 

All is set for the hosting of the three public style meetings aimed at engaging the country’s four presidential candidates and the electorate in dialogue.

The organisers of the meetings told Guyana Times International on Tuesday that they are ready. From all indications, the presidential candidates are also ready for the meetings to be held on November 10, 15 and 17.

One of the organisers of the University of Guyana (UG) public meeting, Kadasi Ceres told this publication that the meeting would see the four presidential candidates speaking for 15 minutes each after which the UG student population would be allowed to ask questions.

Meanwhile, Margaret Lawrence, veteran broadcaster and managing editor of Merundoi Incorporated, told GTI that the civic education programme organised by Merundoi will be held on November 17 at the Theatre Guild. She explained that the forum is expected to last 90 minutes; however, the duration depends on the number of presidential hopefuls present at the programme.

Invitations, she said, have been sent to all contesting parties, “it is a splendid public relations opportunity to educate the public on their plans, manifestos and so forth.” Lawrence added that she is pleased her organisation has led the way in calling for a public meeting where all presidential hopefuls can meet and inform the nation of their plans should they be elected to office.

The organiser said, members of the public and media have an opportunity to submit questions to the organisation and those questions would be posed to the presidential hopefuls.

That aside, those present at the public meeting can ask questions on the floor. Persons who will not be present at the event have the opportunity to email their questions to gydebate2011@ hotmail.com or contact 592-222-1019.

She noted that only 300 persons will be allowed to be audience members and the programme will hopefully be shown live by the National Communications Network (NCN); it will also be streamed live on the Internet at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gy-debate-2011and via radio podcast at www.demwaves.com (Demerara Waves).

The townhall style civic education meeting will be moderated by Abraham Poole, a communications specialist and consultant. Entry can only be gained by invitation and only copies of manifestos will be allowed in the theatre.

Merundoi is partnering with the Guyana Press Association (GPA), the Guyana Media Proprietors’ Association, the Guyana Council of Organisations for persons with disabilities, the Independent Media Workers Association of Guyana (IMAG) and the Jamaica Debates Commission.

Meanwhile, NCN, through its chief executive officer, Martin Goolsarran, said all political parties have been invited to the entity’s debate by the presidential candidates.

The programme is to be aired on both radio and television on November 15 at NCN’s studio Homestretch Avenue at 20: 05h. Candidates will be allowed to speak on policies and issues that their respective parties intend to take to the electorate.

A moderator is to be designated to manage the debate, while four journalists will be allowed to ask two questions each – two are to be drawn from the state media and two from the private media. The duration of the programme is 90 minutes. The format entails the moderator introducing the candidates, after which there will be opening statements of a five-minute duration by each candidate. The moderator then poses two questions to each candidate whose responses are expected to last approximately 20 minutes.

Questions would thereafter be posed by journalists and responses will last another 25 minutes. There would be five minutes each allotted for the speakers to present their closing statements after which the moderator ends the programme.

The aims of the debates are to provide the candidates an opportunity to state clearly their platforms, enable citizens to have a better understanding of the positions taken by each candidate; ensure public discourse on national and regional issues where all candidates have equal access to the media; and encourage voter participation.